Method and apparatus for operating an internal-combustion engine



Oct. 20, 1931. H. SCHWARZE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 30, 1928,

Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED ST TES PATENT, ornca HERMAN scnwAnzE, or rom'rAo ucmAn. Assrenoa r cmm'mo'roas com PORATION, or na'raorr, mcmem, A CORPORATION or, DELAWARE nmnon AnnArrAaA'rus roa ormrme An INTERNAL-COMBUSTION nn'e'nm Application filed July 80,

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and particularly to controlling the operation of the engine so that it will operate in an eflicient manner. 2

The objects of the present invention include amethod and an apparatus for controlling the timing of the ignition spark in order that the engine will operate most efiiciently. The

novel method included in the present invention comprises controllin the timing of the ignition spark in accor ance with engine temperature in order that the ignition s ark will be advanced relative to the cycle 0 engine operations when the engine is cold, and in order that the spark will be retarded more or less according to increase of engine temperature.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fra entary, diagrammatic view of an interna combustion engine provided with i nition apparatus. constructed according to t e present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, fragmentary, sectional view of the i 'tion timer shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ignition timer shown in Fig. 2, the distributor head and rotor being removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view on an enlarged scale showing means responsive to engine temperature for controlling the ignition timer.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 20 designates an internal combustion engine which supports and drives an ignition timer designated in its entirety by numeral 21. The

timer 21 comprises a cup or housing 22 having a shank 23 supported by the engine frame and providing a bearing for a timer drive shaft 24. The shaft 24 carries a timer cam 25 and a distributor rotor 26. The cam25 engages a follower orrubbing block 27 attached to av circuit breaker lever 28.pivotally 1928. Serial No. 896,201.

carried by the breaker lever 28. The conscrew 34' tact 32 is secured to an adjustin threaded through a post 35 which 15 attached to a plate 36 insulatingly supported by the bracket 31..

In order to advance or retard the timing of f the ignition spark, the bracket 31 is rotatable about an axis coaxial with the shaft 24. The bracket 31 is rotatable about a circular boss 37 provided by the housing 22 and is supported for rotation upon an anti-friction bearing 38 whichrests upon the bottom of the timer housing or cup 22. The bracket 31 in-' cludes an extension 39 which extends through a side wall of the housing 22. Assuming that the direction of rotation of the cam 25 is counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, if the bracket 31 is moved counterclockwise by a movement of the extension 39 upwardly as viewed in Fig. 3, the timing of the ignition will be relatively retarded; and downward movement of the extension 39 as viewed in Fig. 3 will roduce clockwise rotation'of the bracket 31 in order to relatively advance the timing of the ignition. In order that the contacts 32 and 33 will be electrically connected with an ignition circuit for various .positions of the bracket 31, the plates 30 and 36 which are electrically connected respectively with contacts 33 and 32 are provided respectively with conducting plates 40 and 41 ofgood conducting material which are enthe housing.

The distributor rotor cooperates with an ignition distributor head 45 carrying posts 46 located in acircular row and each cooperating with a rotating\ segment 47 to provide a'spark ga withint edistributor head. The segment 4 is electrically connected with a leaf spring conductor 48 carrying a center button 49 engageable with a center contact 50. It will be understood that the posts 46 are connected with the various engine spark plugs and the center contact 50 is connected with the high tension terminal of an ignition coil.

The means responsive to engine temperature for controlling the timing of the ignition spark by controlling the position of the bracket 31 includes a temperature responsive expansible and contractable device which is subjected to variations in engine temperature, preferably subjected to variations in the temperature of the circulating water which cools the engine combustion chambers. A portion of the conduit through which the water circulates is designated by numeral 51. This conduit encloses a temperature responsive unit desi ated in its entirety by numeral 62. This unit comprises a supporting plate 63 attached by screws 64 to the conduit 51 and covering an opening 65 therein. To

the plate 63 are attached two concentric metal bellows 66 and 67 which are also attached to a plate 68. The plate 68 is connected with the bracket extension 39 by a Bowden wire 69 slidable through a Bowden wire tube 70. The tube 70 passes through the plate 63 and is attached thereto adjacent one end, and the other end of the tube 7 0 is attached to a bracket 71, preferably integral with the housing 22. A spring 72 is attached to the bracket extension 39 and to a threaded rod 73 which passes loosely through a bracket 74 integral with the housing 22. The threaded rod receives a nut 75. The spring 72 tends to urge the bracket 31 in a clockwise direction to advance the timing of the ignition. The tension of the spring 72 can be varied by turning the nut 75 relative to the rod 73.

The space between the plates 63 and 68 i and between the bellows 66 and 67 is hermetically sealed from the water circulating through the conduit 51 and from the chamber within the bellows 67 which is open to atmosphere. This hermetically sealed chamber contains a volatile liquid which expands readily with increase in temperature. It is therefore apparent that when the engine is cold, the circulating water being cold, the

space occupied by the liquid in the hermetically sealed chamber will be less than when the engine is operating at a higher temperature. Therefore when the engine is cold the bracket 31 will be urged by the spring 72 into a position giving a relatively advanced Thus by the apparatus which has been described, the improved method of engine operation is carried out. It has been found that when the engine is cold, the timing of the ignition should be more advanced than when the engine is relatively warm, in order that the en ine will operate most eificiently.

Whi e the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

"1. The method of operating an internal combustion engine which comprises controlling the timing of the ignition spark in accordance with the temperature of the engine.

2. The method of operating an internal combustion engine which comprises advancing the timing of the-ignition spark as the temperature of the engine decreases.

3. The method of operating an internal combustion engine which comprises retarding the timing of the ignition spark as the temperature of the engine increases.

4. The method of operating an internal combustion engine which comprises controlling the timing of the ignition spark by an engine operated circuit interrupter, and controlling in accordance with engine temperature the time relation between the cycle of operations of the en no and the cycle of operations of the circuit interrupter.

Y 5. Apparatus for controlling the timing of the ignition of an internal combustion engine 1 comprising, in combination, an engine 0 erated circuit interrupter and means contro led by engine temperature for controlling the time relation between the cycle of operations of the engine and the cycle of operations of the circuit interrupter.

6. Apparatus for controlling the timing of the ignition of an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, an engine operated circuit interrupter comprising an engine driven cam and a circuit breaker operated thereby, and means controlled by engine temperature for varying the angular relation between the circuit breaker and the cam.

7. Apparatus for controlling the timing of the ignition of an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, an engine operated circuit interrupter comprising an engine driven cam and a circuit breaker. op- 1 erated thereby, and means controlled by engine temperature for shifting the circuit breaker angularly around the cam.

8. Apparatus for controlling the timing of the ignition of an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, an engine operated circuit interrupter, and means responsiveto variations in the engine cooling medium temperature for controlling the time relation between the cycle of operations of the engine and the cycle of operations of the circult interrupter.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the temperature responsive means includes a movable element controlled in response to the temperature of the engine cooling liquid.

10. The method of operating an internal combustion engine which comprises controlling the time occurrence of the power impulse through engine temperature.

11. Apparatus for controlling the timing of the ignition of an internal combustion engine comprising, in combination, a circuit interrupter and means responsive to variations in engine temperature for controlling the time relation of the said interrupter and engine operations.

12; Apparatus 'for controlling the timing of circuit interruption, comprising in combination, interrupter mechanism for instituting operations of a definite cycle, and tempera-' ture responsive means for controlling the time occurrence of said instituting operations.

In testimony whereof-I hereto aflix my signature. HERMAN SCHWARZE.

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